We Still Don't Know What Cheating Is

A study reveals men, women & people of different religions don't agree on the definition of cheating

When it comes to just about everything involving sex, the lines are often blurred. Some people only consider penetration as sex; whereas others think anything below the belt is sex. So if that's the case, then it makes sense that what people constitute cheating also varies.

A recent survey of over 2,700 singles across the US by Christian Mingle and JDate found that men and women are definitely not on the same page when it comes to what's cheating and what's not. Not only did gender play a large roll, but so did religion.

While 100% of the women surveyed thought kissing is cheating, only 86% of men believed the same. Apparently none of these men have ever had a hot and heavy make-out session, because if that isn't cheating, then I don’t know what is.

Again, things became not so cut and dry when it came to the world of social media and the gadgets with which we stay forever connected to the world: 82% of women "believe texting or online flirting counts as infidelity," and 56% of men felt the same way. Seems a little ridiculous, doesn’t it? A little online flirting is cheating? Does it make it on par with physical cheating or not as bad?

When it came down to other activities that would fall into the cheating category, those findings were somewhat based on religious views. While only a few Jewish singles thought that watching porn, masturbating and going to a strip club was cheating, the Christians didn't share this light and airy take on the matters. In fact, 44% consider watching porn cheating, 30% feel that if you touch yourself you're cheating, and 43% think that if you’re going to strip club with your friends after work, then you're definitely cheating.

When did things get so blurry and why can't we all agree on the definition of cheating?

Cheating, by definition is, according to Merriam-Webster, "to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud." A little online flirting hardly falls into that class, neither does an afternoon at a strip club and most certainly not masturbation.

I think the only way we'll get men and women to agree on what's cheating and what isn't, is if we come up with some clear rules. For example, any touching that's longer than a hug or a greeting that involves a kiss on the cheek is cheating. How simple was that? No questions, no argument, nothing.

Anything involving the internet can't be cheating because there's no touching. Do we have this permanently ingrained in our brains yet? Are we all on the same page now? Good.

What do you consider cheating? Do you and your guy have different opinions?